National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are work-based qualifications that assess the skills and knowledge people need to perform their job role effectively.  The qualifications are based on national occupational standards, which define what employees, or potential employees, must be able to do and know, how well they must do these things, and the circumstances in which they have to use the skills or carry out the activities.  The standards are usually defined by national training organisations (NTOs), which are made up of representatives from the relevant industrial sector.  Each NVQ is divided into units around functional roles.

Assessment is the key to achieving NVQs.  An assessor's role is vital in helping learners to achieve their award and in ensuring that the requirements of the occupational standards are met.  In deciding whether a learner should be awarded an NVQ, an assessor will need to go through the following stages:

• becoming familiar with the standards;
• planning for assessment;
• collecting evidence of the learner's performance;
• judging the learner's evidence against the NVQ standards and making an assessment decision; and
• recording the assessment decision.

Throughout the NVQ, the emphasis is on the learner being able to carry out real work activities, so assessment is normally carried out in the workplace itself. In some cases, it is difficult to collect evidence through a real work situation, the real work environment or within an acceptable time frame and therefore, simulation may be accepted. Such instances where simulation is permitted are specified within the Assessment Strategy of and/or the National Occupational Standards for each individual NVQ.

Simulations will usually deal with contingencies such as unexpected problems, emergencies, or other incidents which will not necessarily occur frequently.

A Learner Report Form (SRF) is a form generated by Edexcel on receiving the SA1. The centre needs to keep a copy and ensure each learner receives a copy as a personalised record of their registration. The form lists all unit titles and codes relating to the qualification that the learner has been registered for.

You will need to demonstrate to Edexcel that your centre has the relevant resources, systems, commitment and expertise to support the consistent delivery, assessment and quality assurance of the NVQ you wish to offer.  Once your centre have these requirements in place you can then apply for approval by completing a series of forms.

The Approvals team has to balance the demands of QCA (the regulator), Sector Skills Council (who write the assessment strategies), its own quality assurance policy and business demands.

An External Verifier's role is to help ensure that those involved in the planning, delivery and assessment of qualifications:

? Maintain the national standard of qualifications awarded by Edexcel
? Assess Learners` performance in accordance with standards and evidence requirements
? Have a clear commitment to ensuring and improving quality.

Details of what the External Verifier will want to see on their visit will have been agreed on the 'Verification Plan'. The plan will typically include:

What the main purpose of the visit is:
e.g. Agree/finalise Verification Plan, verification of assessment decisions,

What the key areas of the visit are:
e.g. Review action plan from last visit, Sampling, Internal Verification

Who the EV would like to see:
e.g. Course Manager, Internal Verifier, Learners

What the EV may want to have in advance of the visit:
e.g. List of Assessors and Learners, Assessor details

What the EV may want to see on the visit day:
e.g. Portfolios, Learners, Assessors, Records of Assessment

The Learning and Skills Council is responsible for all post-16 education and training.

The Council has brought together the skills of the Training and Enterprise Councils and the Further Education Funding Council to work with partners, employers, learning providers, community groups and individuals to develop and implement strategies that meet the Government's aims set out in the 'Learning to Succeed' White Paper.

It works alongside the Employment Service, the Small Business Service, Connexions, the National Training Organisations, further education and sixth form colleges and representatives of community groups, to understand, define and then meet training and education needs.

The Learning and Skills Council's national office is based in Coventry, with 47 local Learning and Skills Councils across England.

Assessment Strategy will usually contain the following information:

Scope of the Award
Qualification Structure
Assessor Requirements
Verifier Requirements
Technical Requirements for Assessors and Verifiers
Assessment Environment
Access to Assessment
Carrying out Assessments
Performance Evidence Requirements
Assessing Knowledge and Understanding
External Quality Control of Assessment